Opioid Use Disorder: What to Know

Posted on : April 23rd, 2016 |
By : towardsrecovery

Opioid use is one of the most damaging things that a human can do to his or her body and mind. The use of opioids can impair the mind and cause distress in the body. When someone develops an opioid use disorder, that person will want to take opioids constantly. The drugs will harmfully affect the body and mind. Those who have the constant craving to take opioids will usually prefer to take drugs rather than spend time with family and friends.

Symptoms that Last for Many Years

Developing an opioid use disorder can have a serious affect on people for several years. It can severely affect a person’s ability to work and earn a living. Opioid addicts tend to develop a large number of absences from work. They also fail to work well with each other and they usually end up living in poverty. Addicts usually think the world is against them, which is why they withdraw from social interaction.

Losing Way of Life

Along with losing jobs and failing to interact with friends and family, many addicts will also end up in trouble with the law. They often drive under the influence, so tend to lose their licenses. They act impulsively, which can draw the attention of law enforcement. They often resort to theft, drug-dealing, and other criminal activities to get money for drugs. Many drug addicts do end up divorced and in court for causes relating to their children.

Issues in the Mind

There are also several problems that happen with the mind when people are addicted to opioids. The usually have issues with memory and concentration. They can often become sleepy and some can actually fall into a coma. It is common for addicts to be unaware of being involved in dangerous activities. They can also hallucinate while under the influence. Opioids become so desirable for addicts because of the euphoria they feel, but this goes away quickly and is replaced by depression and psychomotor slowing.

Physical and Mental Issues

Addicts with opioid use disorder can have many physicial and medical problems. The death rate for addicts is rather high. Many addicts will develop problems due to infections from sharing needles and they can develop bacterial infections, too. Many will also have trouble with sexual organs. It is also common for addicts to have respiratory depression, sleep disorders, and slurred speech.

Diagnosing Opioid Use Disorder

When medical professional diagnose an opioid use disorder, they look at several drugs and factors. The drugs that they look for include heroin, morphine, and opium along with methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine. The repetitive use of these drugs is what draws medical professionals into making this call on this disorder. It is impossible to be given the diagnoses of this disorder if you have never taken any opioids.

The disorder can severely affect the mind. Many people will experience euphoria and then depression. It is easy to become sleepy when taking heroin, which is why so many people appear very sleepy when they are high. Hallucinations can also occur and in most cases, people will experience auditory hallucinations, tractile illuision, or they feel completely out of touch with reality.

Suffering During Withdrawal

While opioid addictions are nothing to laugh about, the withdrawal that can happen when trying to quit using drugs is extremely painful. Those who try to stop will experience horrible symptoms like vomiting, runny nose, muscle pain and aches, yawning, fever, and in many cases dysphoric mood. Many medical professionals will help opioid addicts by prescribing naloxone, buprenorphine, or methadone. It is important that all addicts are continually monitored by medical professionals while using a medically assisted withdrawal method. There are many side effects to using these drugs to break an addiction to a more harmful drug.